How to remove RootDiscover adware and the advertisements it displays
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is RootDiscover?
RootDiscover is an adware-type application that our research team discovered while examining new submissions to the VirusTotal website. This piece of advertising-supported software belongs to the AdLoad malware family. RootDiscover is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns, i.e., feed users with unwanted and deceptive ads.
RootDiscover adware overview
Adware displays intrusive advertisements on various interfaces, such as visited websites, desktops, and others. The ads (e.g., pop-ups, overlays, banners, etc.) primarily promote online scams, unreliable/harmful software, and potential malware. When clicked on, some intrusive adverts can even execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.
Note that while legitimate content can be encountered via these advertisements – it is unlikely to be endorsed by its actual developers or other official parties. It is most probable that this endorsement is undertaken by scammers who abuse the products' affiliate programs in order to acquire illegitimate commissions.
Advertising-supported software might not deliver intrusive advert campaigns if the browser/system specs are incompatible, specific sites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. However, this software remains a threat regardless of whether it displays ads.
AdLoad apps commonly have browser hijacker qualities, and while this might be true of RootDiscover – we did not observe any such traits during testing.
The RootDiscover application likely has data-tracking abilities. Adware typically targets browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc. The gathered information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of software like RootDiscover on devices can lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Ads by RootDiscover |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.13), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Additional Information | This application belongs to Adload malware family. |
| Symptoms | Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), torrent file downloads. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information. |
| Malware Removal (Mac) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Adware examples
We have inspected thousands of adware samples; ExperienceSys, TradeAero, and FeedWild are merely a few of our latest finds.
Advertising-supported software is usually presented as legitimate and useful. However, the promised features seldom work as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. It must be stressed that even if a piece of software operates as indicated by its promotional material – that is not definitive proof of either legitimacy or safety.
How did RootDiscover install on my computer?
Adware can be bundled with ordinary programs. The risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and approaching installation processes with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).
Intrusive advertisements proliferate adware as well. Once clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations.
Additionally, advertising-supported software can have "official" promotional webpages, and it is endorsed on scam sites. Most users access such pages through redirects caused by websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).
How to avoid installation of adware?
We highly recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified sources. When installing, it is important to read terms, study available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additions (e.g., apps, extensions, tools, etc.).
Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless. For example, intrusive adverts may look innocuous – yet redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).
In case of encounters with ads/redirects of this kind, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with RootDiscover, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
Pop-up window displayed once RootDiscover adware's installation is over:
RootDiscover adware's installation folder:
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac
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Quick menu:
- What is RootDiscover?
- STEP 1. Remove RootDiscover related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove RootDiscover ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove RootDiscover adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove RootDiscover ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove RootDiscover adware using Combo Cleaner:
RootDiscover adware removal:
Remove RootDiscover-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:
Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX","NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash.
After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.
Remove adware-related files and folders
Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...
Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/
In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.
Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:
In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/
In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.
Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:
If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.
Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.
After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.
Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers
Remove malicious Safari extensions:
Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".
In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What harm can adware cause?
Adware displays adverts that promote content capable of causing severe problems (e.g., system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). It can also decrease browsing quality and system performance. Advertising-supported software usually collects private information – hence, it is classed as a privacy threat.
What does adware do?
Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It displays ads on various interfaces. Some types can also cause redirects and gather private information.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware developers generate revenue mainly through affiliate programs by endorsing various websites, apps, extensions, products, services, and so on.
Will Combo Cleaner remove RootDiscover adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate detected adware-type apps. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be an ideal solution. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed – various file leftovers remain hidden within the system. Furthermore, the remnants can continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.
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